Electromedical apparatus



Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,862

K. P. HANGL ELECTROMEDIGAL APPARATUS Filed Oct. 27, 1923 WITNESSES Y /Vl/ENTOR g ian 29 8) i 2 I ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES KARL P. HANGL, OI NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEOTBOMEDICAL APPARATUS.

Application ma 0mm 27, 1923. Serial at. 671,188.

This invention relates to an elcctromedical apparatus. An object of the'invention is to provide a simple and eflicie nt apparatus for the roduction of low frequency currents for app ication to the human body which is practically insulated. I

Another object concerns the provision of means whereby the strength of these currents can be very easily regulated to produce a variety of effects.

A further object concerns the provision of means whereby the manipulation of the device is rendered extremely simple.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing, which is in theform of a diagram of the apparatus and the circuits involved.

The form of the invention shown in the,

drawings is a preferred form, although it is understood that modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts and the character of the materials used may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the production of electrotherapeutic effects on the human body I have found that proper effects are obtained as well by the use of low frequency currents as b the use of high frequency currents; and, rthermore, that by using low frequency current the stimulation to the nerve centers of a practically insulated system are not so pronounced and coil 0 the Ruhmkorf type, having a primary and a secondary. The

provided brating element which is adapted to have a slow rate of vibration. In the secondary p circuit there is established a ground connection and an electrode which is to be applied to the insulated human body. Shunted across the terminals of the secondary, I provide an. auxilia coil in series with a gap which can be a justable. When this auxiliary gap is made small enough the out ut of the main secondary coil is absor d through this shunt circuit, so that only a small amount of the energy is available any suitable type.

rimary circuit is with a source 0 current and a.v1-

through the electrode. By this arrangement I can reduce the amount of current available at the electrode when desired.

As shown in the drawings, the main coil is provided with a core 1 of any usual type, and a primary winding 2 in circuit with which there is a battery 3. A secondar coil 4 is provided, the terminals of which are connected to wires 8 and 9 one of which 15 connected to the ground 11 and the other of which is connected to an electrode 10 of Preferably the end surface 10" 1s a metal plate to be pressed against the body.

In circuit with the primary coil 2 is a vibrat ng spring 5 the end of which, 5, in the usual manner acts as an armature. Associated with this vibrating spring plate 1s an adjustable contact point 6 whereby the movement of the plate 5 will make and break the circuit through the battery in the rimary coil 2. Shunted across the termina of the secondary coil 4 is a coil 12 having a core 13, and in series with this coil there is an ad'ustable gap 14.

referably the vibrating spring 5 and the contact member 6 are made of soft metal. In a specific instance, the spring 5 may be made of a sheet of soft brass, and the ends of the contact member 6 can be made of tempered copper wires (not shown). By reason of the provision of this character of vibrator elements the frequency of vibration is relativel low so that the making and breaking o the circuit in the primary will produce a low frequency current in the secondary. In ordinary operation the adjustable aux- 1l1ary gap 14 is so far opened that all the energy of the secondary circuit will ass through the electrode 10 to the insuated system. However, when the ap 14 is made sufficiently small it will fie understood that the energy of the main secondary circuit will jump the gap and ass through the coil 12, the impedance of which is designed to be relatively small compared to the resistance offered to the human body through the electrode 10. Therefore, when the auxiliar gap is adjusted so that the coil 12 absor a considerable amount of the energy of the secondary coil 4, the amount of current passing through the electrode and, therefore, through the body is reduced.

It is-obvious that there are only two elements that require adjustment, namely, the adjustable gap 14 and the contact member 6 and that by adjusting these in the desired relation the character of the current roduced can be varied. It is further obvious that these parts as set forth co-operate m a very simple manner to achieve the desired result.

In insulating the human body it is preferable to have a patient lie or stand on a rubber mat or sheet during treatment for insulating the human body from the earth as far as is practical.

\Vhat I claim is 1. An electromedical apparatus comprising a main primary and a secondary coil inductively related, a source of current and 1 vibrating interrupter of low frequency in a gap shunted across the terminals of the secondary c011.

KARL P. HANGL. 

